Recycled Crafts

Creative DIY Projects That Turn Trash Into Treasure

Origami for Mindfulness: Color and fold your way to inner peace with these 35 calming projects

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Giveaway- Origami for Mindfulness: Color and fold your way to inner peace with these 35 calming projects

Leave a comment in today’s post by October 23, 2016 and you are in the running for this pretty origami book with a pack of origami paper included.

Open to U. S. residents only please.

Use mindful origami everyday with these 35 projects designed to destress, calm, and help you live in the moment.

Origami, the ancient Japanese art of paper folding, is renowned for its therapeutic benefits, and now Mari Ono, an expert in Japanese papercrafts, shares how the simple act of folding paper can have profound effects on your well-being. This collection of 35 origami projects not only teaches you how to create beautiful flowers, animals, objects, and more, but also helps reduce stress, improve concentration, and overcome negative emotions.

By focusing on the calming process of origami, you’ll find a path to greater mindfulness, awareness, and a sense of connectedness. Each fold and model you complete brings feelings of joy and satisfaction, contributing to emotional balance and inner peace. The creative experience of origami has been shown to promote both physical and emotional health, providing a meditative outlet for everyday stresses.

What makes origami especially appealing is its simplicity and accessibility. It’s a perfect tool for those wanting to begin a mindful lifestyle, requiring no expensive materials—just paper and your hands. Plus, with over 60 pieces of origami paper provided, including colorable sheets, you can engage in the calming practice of coloring, which has been proven to induce relaxation as well. Origami is not only an art form but a holistic practice that can be done anywhere, anytime, offering both a creative and therapeutic escape from the demands of daily life.

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Comments

  1. Love learning and making
    projects like this. Be fun
    to win the book and paper.
    Carla from Utah

  4. Would love to learn Orgami and share it with my grandson. I could also use a great stress reducer.

    Thanks for a chance to win! Fingers crossed ;D

    usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

Have you read?

DIY Paper Bag Mushrooms – A Creative Upcycled Craft for Kids and Nature Lovers

There’s something magical about mushrooms — maybe it’s the fairy-tale vibes or their cozy woodland charm. Either way, turning ordinary brown paper bags into mushrooms is a fun, hands-on craft project that kids (and adults) will enjoy. The best part? You’re reusing materials that might otherwise go to waste. Win-win!

This easy tutorial walks you through making your very own forest of recycled mushrooms using simple supplies you likely already have around the house.

What You’ll Need:

  • Brown paper lunch bags (you can even use grocery bags cut to size)

  • Scrap paper or newspaper for stuffing

  • String, yarn, or twine

  • Scissors

  • Paints (acrylic or tempera work best)

  • Paintbrushes or sponges

  • Optional extras: markers, stickers, googly eyes, craft glue

Step-by-Step: How to Make Your Mushrooms

Step 1: Create the Mushroom Top
Start by opening your paper bag and gently crumpling up some newspaper or scrap paper. Stuff it into the bottom of the bag — not too tight, just enough to give it a rounded shape that will form the mushroom cap.

Step 2: Form the Stem
Once the top is nice and puffy, hold the bag just underneath the stuffed section and twist it lightly to shape the stem. Tie a piece of twine or string around this part to hold the form. You’ll now have a mushroom top with a long paper bag hanging down — that’s your stem.

Step 3: Trim to Size
If the stem looks too long or uneven, grab your scissors and snip it down to your preferred height. You can even experiment with making some taller and some short and chubby for a little mushroom variety.

Step 4: Paint and Decorate
Time for the fun part — painting! Flip the mushroom cap upright and paint it any way you like. Classic red with white spots? Go for it. Bright blue with glitter? Why not! Use brushes or dabbers to add spots, swirls, or patterns. Let kids express their creativity — there’s no wrong way to decorate a magic mushroom!

Step 5: Let It Dry
Place your mushrooms somewhere safe to dry. You can use a sheet of newspaper or cardboard to avoid mess. Once dry, they’ll stiffen a little and hold their shape nicely.

Step 6: Display Your Mushroom Garden
Line them up on a windowsill, add them to a play area, or build a fairy village in the corner of a room. You can even glue them to a cardboard base and add moss, pebbles, and tiny paper critters for a full scene.

Extra Ideas:

  • Add flags or tiny doors to make mushroom homes.

  • Draw faces or names on the stems to turn them into characters.

  • Use cotton balls or pom-poms for fluffy mushroom spots.

Why This Project Rocks:

This is one of those crafts that doesn’t need a trip to the store or fancy tools — just a little time, a few basic supplies, and a bit of imagination. Plus, it encourages kids to see the creative potential in everyday materials — a great step toward more mindful, eco-conscious crafting.

So go ahead, raid the recycling bin and bring a mini mushroom forest to life.

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How to make a rainbow forest of adorable recycled mushrooms